Coffee is a fresh product, and like any fresh product, it has a shelf life. Here are five telltale signs your beans are past their best.
1. No Aroma
Fresh coffee should smell incredible the moment you open the bag. If your beans have little to no aroma, the volatile compounds have dissipated and the flavour will be flat.
2. Oily Surface (on light/medium roasts)
While dark roasts naturally have an oily sheen, light and medium roasts should appear dry. Oil on these beans means the cell structure has broken down over time.
3. No Bloom
When you pour hot water over fresh coffee, it should bubble and expand — this is CO2 escaping. No bloom means no freshness.
4. Flat, Papery Taste
Stale coffee tastes dull, cardboard-like, and one-dimensional. Fresh coffee should be vibrant with distinct flavour notes.
5. Been Open More Than 3 Weeks
Even stored correctly, ground coffee starts losing flavour after a few days. Whole beans stay fresh for 2-4 weeks after roasting. Buy smaller quantities more often for the best experience.
The bloom test is such a simple way to check freshness. I had no idea my supermarket beans were so stale until I tried Roastair and saw the difference.